Terminal connectors



Aug. 16, 1955 G. PAVLINETZ TERMINAL CONNECTORS FiledMay 19, 1950 R m w W.

662012559 Pdvlinez BY 7 Mfit ATTORNEY United States Patent 'IERIVHNAL CONNECTORS George Pavlinetz, Carteret, N. J.

Application May 19, 1950, Serial No. 162,932

6 Claims. (Cl. 339-213) My invention relates to electrical connectors, more particularly to improved forms of terminal plugs of the solderless type.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a plug or terminal connector which eliminates the necessity for the use of soldering or the use of screws or special tools for securing a conductor thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved type of plug or terminal connector of the type described and more particularly to one employing a selflocking clamp connection to a conductor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a. plug or terminal connector which can be readily attached to the ends of a cable or conductor by an unskilled worker without the use of expensive tools or machinery.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a terminal connector or plug of the self-locking type in which the conductor or cable may be inserted into the plug and anchored in locked position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a locking means in the form of an electrical insulator which also protects the terminal connector and is easy to adjust to locking position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a plug or terminal connector having a locking means including an auxiliary insert of soft deformable conducting material which insures a tight clamping action and a good electrical contact.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a plug or terminal connector which may be readily formed from sheet metal and is useful for large or small currents.

These and other objects will appear hereinafter.

in general my invention comprises a conductor of U-shape having oppositely disposed elongated portions or legs which are to be received within a socket and having enlarged free end portions provided with inwardly directed and reentrant free ends. These free ends engage and serve as a suport for an insert member, preferably of U-shape, formed of soft conducting material, the oppositely disposed inner surfaces of which are serrated or provided with scored portions for engaging a conductor received between these portions.

A locking sleeve of insulating material having a properly shaped hollow interior is received over the elongated portions or legs and receives within itself the enlarged portions to force the enlarged portions and insert against a conductor received between these portions with a clamping action. The external surfaces of the enlarged portions of the legs are provided with teeth or barbs extending outwardly to engage the inner walls of the chamber within the insulator to prevent removal of the sleeve when it is inserted over the elongated portions of the terminal member.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention itself will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side elevation partially in section 2,715,714 Patented Aug. 16,1955

ice

showing a terminal connector or plug made according to my invention with a conductor clamped therein, Figure 2 shows details of construction prior to assembly, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the insert used with my invention, Figure 3a shows details of the relationship of the serrations of insert shown in Figure 3, Figure 4 is a longitudinal section and Figure 5 an end view of the insulating sleeve used with my invention, Figure 6 is a side elevation partially in section of a modification of a plug or terminal connector made according to my invention, Figure 7 is a perspective view prior to assembly of the U-shaped member for receiving the insert shown in perspective in Figure 8, Figure 8a is a transverse section taken along the line 8a8a of Figure 8, Figure 9 shows the U-shaped terminal conductor and insert prior to assembly of the device shown in Figure 6, Figure 10 is a longitudinal section and Figure 11 is an end view of an insulator used with the modification shown in Figure 6, Figure 12 is a side elevation of the U-shaped conductor shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 13 is a side elevation of a modification of the element shown in Figure 12.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, a plug or terminal connector made according to my invention includes the U-shaped conducting member 28, made preferably of sheet metal and having the oppositely disposed elongated leg portions 21 and 22 enlarged at their lower ends at 23 and 24 as best shown in Figure 12. The lower free ends of the enlarged portions are directed inwardly and upwardly to form reentrant hook members for supporting an insert member of soft deformable material, preferably copper and having the oppositely disposed leg portions 39 and 31. The insert is thinned out at lower ends 33 and 34 to be engaged by the inturned free ends 25 and 26 of the U-shaped conductor. The insert has a thinned-out portion at 32 to permit ready deformation in assembly. The insert is scored to provide serrations or ridges on the inside surfaces of the legs 39 and 31 for engaging a conductor 35 having the insulating coating 36 when the insulating sleeve 29 is received over the U-shaped member Ztl with the oppositely disposed legs 21 and 22 extending through the aperture 38. Barbs or teeth 27 and 28 are provided on the enlarged portions of the legs for engaging the side walls of the chamber 37 Within the sleeve 29 to lock the sleeve in place.

To assemble the terminal and a wire engaged thereby with the insulating sleeve, a wire for example of the stranded type is first inserted between the legs 30 and 31 of the insert. The U-shaped member and insert are then collapsed and forced to close over the wire with a clamping action by means of a pair of pliers for example. The terminal, insert and wire are then inserted into the insulating sleeve so that the closed end elongated leg portions 21 and 22 extend through aperture 38. As the sleeve, which is tapered inside, is forced down over the U-shaped conductor it forces the legs 21 and 22 more tightly together and the serrated portions of the insert against the stranded wire to firmly grip the Wire to lock it within the terminal connector and to provide a good contact.

In Figure 3a is shown the relationship of the serrations or ridges on the inside surfaces of the legs of the insert, the teeth or serrations of each leg registering with the groove between serrations of the opposite leg.

In Figure 13 I show a modification of the U-shaped conductor in which the upper portion of the legs, such as 21', have the same width as the remainder of the U-shaped member having the lower free ends 23 provided with barbs 25 which can be pointed in either di rection so that the insulating sleeve 29 can be applied over the terminal from either direction.

In order to provide a plug or terminal connector made according to my invention and which may be utilized with :solid round conductors, I provide the modification shown 'in Figures 6 to 11 inclusive.

The U-shaped conductor 40 in this .case is provided with the oppositely disposed legs 41 and 42 and the enlarged lower portions 48 and 49 are provided withthe semi-annular oppositely disposed portions 50 and 51 which in effect provide a tubular sleeve when the two portions of the conductor are forced toward each other. The lower ends are again provided with the inturned and upturned free, ends or hook elements 52 and 53 to serve as a support for the insert which is shown in perspective in Figure 8. This insert 69 of soft material is provided with a semi-annular portion 61 and 62 supported between U-shaped legs 63 and 63'. As shown in the cross section, Figure 8a, the portions 61 and 62 are thicker than the leg portions 63 and 63'. This insert is received by U-shaped conductor 49 as shown in Figure 9 prior to assembly. The inner walls of the semicircular portions 61 and 62 are provided with grooves and ridges as shown in a manner similar to the construction shown in Figure 2. These portions may, if desired, be dimpled inwardly to further tightly engage the wire clamped by the insert. It may be collapsed with pliers to pin to insertion in the insulating sleeve 45 as described above in connection with the modification shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

The insulating sleeve 45 has a chamber 70 provided with oppositely disposed slots 71 and 72 and passageway 73 for receiving the terminal conductor as shown in Figure 6.

While I have indicated the preferred embodiments of my invention of which I am now aware and have also indicated only one specific application for which my invention may be employed, it will be apparent that my invention is by no means limited to the exact forms 1. A terminal connector having oppositely disposed elongated leg portions to be received, within a socket,

jsaid portions being joined at one end and being provided at their free ends with inwardly and upwardly extend- .ing supporting terminations, and a U-shaped insert received between said leg portions and contacting and" supported by said supporting terminations, and an insulating sleeve received over said elongated leg portions, said sleeve having an apertured end wall, said elongated leg portionsextending threugh the apertured end of said sleeve, said sleeve engaging said free ends for forcing said free ends toward each other and said insert into contact with a conductor received within said insert, said insert being grooved on its inside surfaces to provide serrations, the grooves of one surface registering with the intermediate portions between the grooves of the other surface. i

2. A terminal connector having oppositely disposed elongated leg portions of conducting material to be received within a socket, said portions being joined at one end and being enlarged at their free ends, said enlarged free ends being provided with inwardly and upwardly directed terminations providing hook supports, and a U-shapedinsert received between said enlarged portions and contacting and supported by said inwardly and upwardly directed terminations, and an insulating sleeve received oversaid leg portions, said elongated portions extending from and through one end thereof, said sleeve engaging said enlarged portions and forcing said enlarged portions and said insert into contact with a conductor to be received therebetween, said enlarged portions being provided with outwardly directed teeth contacting the inner surface of said sleeve for locking said sleeve on said terminal.

3. A terminal connector having oppositely disposed elongated portions to be received within a socket, said portions being joined at one end and being enlarged at their free ends, said enlarged ends being provided with inwardly and upwardly directed terminations forming supports, and a U-shaped insert received between said enlarged portions and contacting and supported by said inwardly and upwardly directed terminations, and an insulating sleeve having an apertured end wall received over said elongated portions, said elongated portions extending through the apertured end thereof, said sleeve engaging said enlarged portions for forcing said enlarged portions and said insert into contact with a conductor received therebetween, said enlarged portions being provided with outwardly directed teeth contacting the inner surface of said sleeve for locking said sleeve on said terminal, said insert comprising a soft conducting material having on the interior oppositely disposed surfaces thereof serrations for engaging the strands of a conductor to be received therebetween, said sleeve being internally flared and enlarged at the end opposite the apertured end fOl'f guiding said enlarged portions into the chamber within the insulating sleeve.

4. A terminal connector having oppositely disposed elongated leg portions to be'received within a socket,

said portions being joined at one end and being enlargedv at their free ends, said enlarged free ends being provided with inwardly and upwardly directed terminations and an insert received between said enlarged portions and contacting and supported by said inwardly and upwardly directed terminations, and an insulating sleeve received over said leg portions, said elongated leg portions extending nularly shaped portions, said insert having semi-annularly shaped portions received within the first mentioned semiannularly shaped portions, the semi-annularly shaped por 'tions of said insert having a thickness greater than that of the remainder of said insert, said semi-annularly shaped 1 portions of said insert being supported between U-shaped legs, the ends of which are supported in said terminations, said insert being provided with a serrated interval wall portion. v p

5. A U-shaped terminal connector having oppositely disposed elongated portions to be received within a socket, said portions having enlarged free ends, said free ends being provided with inwardly and upwardly directed terminations providing supporting hooks, and a U-shaped insert received between said enlarged portions, the free ends of its legs contacting and supported by said inwardportions and said insert into contact with a conductor received therebetween, said insert comprising a soft conducting material having its inside oppositely disposed surfaces scored to provide transverse ridges, the ends of the legs of said insert and the closed end of said insert being thinner in cross section than the rest of said insert, said connector being flat and said sleeve being of rectangular cross section.

6. A U-shaped terminal connector having oppositely disposed elongated leg portions to be received within a F socket, the free end of said connector being provided with inwardly and upwardly directed terminations providing supports, a U-shaped insert received between said free ends and connecting and supported by said inwardly and upwardly directed terminations, and an insulating sleeve received over said U-shaped connector, said elongated leg portions extending through one end thereof, said sleeve engaging said free ends for forcing said free ends and said insert into contact with a conductor received therebetween, said free ends having oppositely disposed semi-annularly shaped portions, said insert having semiannularly shaped portions received within the first mentioned semi-annularly shaped portions, the semi-annularly shaped portions of said insert being supported by U-shaped legs, the free ends of the U-shaped legs being supported in said terminations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brunner Ian. 9, 1906 Finkelstein July 14, 1914 

